WORK.

Tomorrow is my last day on the full-time contract at my company.

I decided to switch contracts. Though I was really thankful (to God) I had been able to block out the mornings, it still wasn't enough. To be healthy, I need to eat dinner at a regular time, which I couldn't do on the full-time contract.

BEFORE
My schedule has been "open from 1pm-9:10pm Tue-Fri, 8:30am-6:10pm Sat". Most of the other full-time instructors are open from 8:30am-9:10am weekdays and 8:30am-6:10pm weekends (5 or 6 days a week). When I started, I was working Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat (the same hours as I mentioned above).

At the time I took the job, they really needed a kids teacher, so I had some room to negotiate. So, I said I wouldn't take the job if I couldn't block the mornings. I also wanted Sun/Mon off, as that's when Daiju (usually) has off. But they weren't able to give me Monday until about 2 months after I started.

I thought I had gotten my "perfect schedule" after that, but then I realized how unhealthy not eating regularly can be. I found myself getting sick more often than usual, and having trouble eating because I was so tired after (& during) work.

THE WAY IT IS
You see, in the business I'm in, the students get the priority in setting up the schedule. Therefore, teachers don't get the same schedule every day, nor do they get a set lunch or dinner break. Full-time teachers teach a minimum of 8 lessons a day, with a maximum of 6 in a row (though some teachers teach more, after asked if they are willing to do so). Some nights I get a dinner break at 5:30, others at 6:15 or 7pm, and sometimes I work 6 in a row from 4pm to 8:30pm (like tonight). When the first three of those are kids' group lessons, this can really take a lot out of you!

Yet I don't feel I have the right to complain. Most of the other teachers work much longer hours than I do, some of them have to travel to companies or other schools every day in addition to teaching at our school. Plus, the average Japanese person works much harder and longer than any of us do.

MY DECISION
Nonetheless I have decided to switch contracts.

The one I've switched to (starting Thursday) is less stable than the full-time contract. I only get "left-over" lessons, which means when the school isn't very busy &/or when the kids are on summer or winter vacation, I might not teach at all, meaning I don't make any money. But I'll actually be paid more per lesson than on the full-time contract, so most of the time I'll be making not-much-less than what I made before.

The good thing about this contract is I have a lot more flexibility, and it's really easy for me to take off work when I need to. If I'm not feeling well or need to go back to the States suddenly, it won't affect my company too much if I take off work. Also, I can block time wherever I like--which, in my case, means at 6:15pm Tue-Fri (so I can eat dinner regularly).

MY MOTIVATION
Eating regularly and being healthy aren't the only motivating factors for making the switch. After all, my getting sick so often could also be just because I'm still a new-be to this country (can I use new-be that way??). Mr. Right <3 said he was fine his first year in the States, but his second year he got sick pretty often.

I also want to be as much of a housewife as I can be. I haven't been keeping up with cleaning & the laundry as well as I'd like, and I rarely cook anything--even pasta. We've been eating out for virtually every meal but breakfast. Not that I'm terribly fond of cooking, but I'd like to come to enjoy it, at least enough to do some of it every day. I do like the result of it, any way! LOL

Plus, since we don't have kids yet I'd like to spend more time studying Japanese and perhaps acquire some other skills as well. I'm considering taking a cooking class, and maybe taking up Aikido (Japanese self-defense). The latter could be good exercise, which is another thing I need to be consistent about.

So, with my new schedule, hopefully I'll be able to do some or all of this. Not all at once, but eventually.

A PRAYER REQUEST
My man has been working so hard, much harder than I had imagined. I never realized what this would be like for him--working here, and in the business he's in--until after he got into it. He does enjoy it, and it challenges him to be better, which are both pluses. He has so many gifts, goals, and ideas. We're still not sure if God is leading him to stay in this business until he retires, or if he should pursue something else.

Any way, the plan is to work at our current jobs for a minimum of 3 years (which means a little over 1.5 more years) and then decide if we'll continue on this track or consider pursuing other options. Please pray for us to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance, wherever, whenever.

Tonight I gained a peace that God's hand is still on us, and that He's very aware of everything that's going on. We just have to be still and patient and do our best where we are.


Thank you in advance for your prayers.